Cyber attack could fell U.S. within 15 minutes!

Cyber attack could fell U.S. within 15 minutes!

www.telegraph.co.uk

The United States must prepare for a full-scale cyber attack that could cause death and destruction across the country within 15 minutes, a former anti-terrorism official has warned.

In part, the U.S. has been hampered by the success of the Internet and expansion of computerized networks, which have led to a hazardous degree of over-dependence.

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www.edmontonjournal.com

Richard Clarke's new book, Cyber War: The Next National Security Threat, warns that tens of thousands of Americans could die in a cyber attack unleashed by tech savvy terror groups.

Problems would start with the collapse of the Pentagon's computer networks, followed by attacks on Internet service providers resulting in a complete meltdown, chemical plants malfunctioning releasing lethal clouds of chlorine, Air traffic control going haywire as well as a devastating impact on train subway systems in New York, Washington and Los Angeles and more than 150 cities would be hit by power cuts.

Well, this was long overdue. According to Clarke and Knake, successive administrations, including President Barack Obama's, have failed to get to grips with the scale of the problem.

Is America prepared? No! When are the PTBs going to wake up from their deep slumber? And China is probably waiting in the wings rubbing its hands with glee!

Read more: www.edmontonjournal.com...




www.telegraph.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

Seriously.Is Your country that reliant on the internet that any of these scenarios is possible.I really find it hard to believe or is this just scaremongering?We seemed to survive alright before the internet >i mean can you imagine we never used to have mobile phones,the world didnt fall apart.

It's not gonna happen, because it somehow reminded me of that Y2K bug thing that was supposed to happen but didn't turn out the way it did. Cyber attacks happen all the time, but this one is adding a little too much salt and pepper.

[edit on 9-5-2010 by Shrukin89]

I am sorry... but if MANKIND is stupid enough not to be able to function without the aid of technology then we are indeed doomed. I hear stories of pilots crashing against other planes, and in my head i wonder... "What a retard!" With so much space in the air, how can you crash against another plane? That's like getting hit by a train! You have miles to get out of its way. Another thing with the chlorine... why would factories randomly release deadly fumes? Unless their pressures were unregulated in 15 minutes i can see this happening although i am pretty positive you can just shut everything off in less than 5 minutes working together. Something similar to Live Free or Die Hard's Fire Sale could happen, but that would take a giant terrorist organization skilled heavily on hacking and cracking Government operated networks. When the United States catches hackers, some of them end up in Government programs and end up scoring great jobs, the rest... locked away in a prison. A technology attack would seem powerful until you realize this type of technology we have is very limited. If there is SPACE for our water system to be contaminated with other HARMFUL contaminants such as Fluoride or worse, then that is something we should have been taking out of those factories a very long time ago. We keep building systems made to break in order to gain profits by temporarily fixing them, despite the effects it might have on the population, but there we go into another topic of discussion, over population. I highly doubt any terrorist group would organize the murder of thousands of innocent people for self pleasure. There is NOTHING out there that can convince another human being to murder on a mass scale. If this is possible, you are no longer dealing with a human being or a serial killer, you are dealing with an evil spirit trapped inside of a human body.

Originally posted by drkid
I highly doubt any terrorist group would organize the murder of thousands of innocent people for self pleasure. There is NOTHING out there that can convince another human being to murder on a mass scale. If this is possible, you are no longer dealing with a human being or a serial killer, you are dealing with an evil spirit trapped inside of a human body.

Huh? How many thousands were killed in the WTC? The September 11 attacks were a series of coordinated suicide attacks by al-Qaeda upon the United States on September 11, 2001. 3000 innocents killed! Many maimed for life!

How many innocent men women and children killed in cold blood by Pakistani terrorists in Mumbai? 300 and many more injured, some maimed for life!

Terrorists and suicide bombers aren't 'human beings'. They are killing machines, brainwashed into killing fellow humans - the 'non believers', the 'infidels'!

If they had a nuke, they could blackmail the world and especially the US of A. So they will do whatever it takes to try and bring America to its knees. After all, their ultimate aim is to establish a World Muslim Caliphate.

In a nutshell, this isn't science fiction. It's not the question of 'if' but 'when'!

reply to post by OrionHunterX


I'm sorry, but what?

The US and Russia (maybe china to) has large stashes of Nuclear Warheads, on top of nuclear defense protocols. A terrorist organization with one, will be the target of every country in the world that they're not allied with, they wouldn't be able to blackmail a dead kitten, much less huge superpower nations. The Pentagon is being hacked into daily, this has been confirmed somewhere.

Cool your jets.

Originally posted by WaxPineapple
reply to post by OrionHunterX

 

I'm sorry, but what?
The US and Russia (maybe china to) has large stashes of Nuclear Warheads, on top of nuclear defense protocols.
A terrorist organization with one, will be the target of every country in the world that they're not allied with, they wouldn't be able to blackmail a dead kitten, much less huge superpower nations.

Bolds mine.

Get real! You contend that a terrorist organization will be the target of every country in the world?? I really don't know what you mean by this. I'm surprised that you are unaware of the simple fact that terrorist organizations DO NOT HAVE A COUNTRY! So what and where are these countries going to retaliate?

Let's say for example the Al Qaeda gets hold of a nuke. Where and whom are you going to bomb? Pakistan? Afghanistan? Saudi Arabia? Yemen? You can't bomb a country into the stone age just because a rag tag circus of militants are holed up there. And then again you're not sure if they are! Unless of course you're dead sure about the complicity of a particular nation in providing the wherewithal to the terrorist organization.

They wouldn't be able to blackmail a dead kitten, much less huge superpower nations.

Oh yes they would! And how! Now you know!

But wait! Here's more....

Obama: Al-Qaida would use nuke if it could; terrorist access ‘biggest threat’ to security.

If Al-Qaida acquired nuclear weapons it “would have no compunction at using them,” President Barack Obama said on the eve of a summit aimed at discussing ways to secure the world’s nuclear stockpile.

“The single biggest threat to U.S. security, both short-term, medium-term and long-term, would be the possibility of a terrorist organization obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Obama said. “This is something that could change the security landscape in this country and around the world for years to come.”

“If there was ever a detonation in New York City, or London, or Johannesburg, the ramifications economically, politically and from a security perspective would be devastating,” the president said.

So what's he doing about it?

A congressionally authorized Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation gave the Obama administration an 'F' grade for its performance in preparing the U.S. homeland for a terrorist attack that utilized nuclear/biological warfare.

Cool your jets.

You can now direct this remark towards Obama and the Congressional Committee!




breakingnews.gaeatimes.com...







[edit on 9-5-2010 by OrionHunterX]

...You can't bomb a country into the stone age just because a rag tag circus of militants are holed up there. And then again you're not sure if they are! Unless of course you're dead sure about the complicity of a particular nation in providing the wherewithal to the terrorist organization.

Oh, the irony.

I would not worry much about Muslim fundamentalists using this technology, because they seem hellbent on causing blood and guts carnage. Now, I would not put it past China and Russia to utilize this technology in the near future. If I were the Pentagon and NSA I would be worrying about them first and foremost, because it is apparent that China and Russia have become maestros of this new concept called cyber-warfare. They most likely have armies of hackers working around the clock looking for breaches in the firewalls of their would be enemies.



However, on the flip-side, I hope the US is doing the same. The internet is devolving into the new battlefield, and if comprised, it could have chaotic consequences on the economy, national security, and social order.

Moreover, the sad fact of the matter is that the United States has become far too dependent on the internet and computers for conducting day to day business. Every function of society has a the computer or internet present in some capacity, ranging from finance to defense. Then lets go into the decrepit power grid, which is being held together with bubble gum and rubber bands. In other words, the grid is in horrific shape.



One prime example of one of the largest breaches, would be the blackout that hit the east coast some years back. Fortunately, there was not widespread chaos and crime as a result. There is a belief by some in government that the Chinese had a role in the 2003 blackout.

China’s Cyber-Militia

Computer hackers in China, including those working on behalf of the Chinese government and military, have penetrated deeply into the information systems of U.S. companies and government agencies, stolen proprietary information from American executives in advance of their business meetings in China, and, in a few cases, gained access to electric power plants in the United States, possibly triggering two recent and widespread blackouts in Florida and the Northeast, according to U.S. government officials and computer-security experts.

www.nationaljournal.com...

Now, the above allegation is truly troubling. So, if what happened above is indeed true, then the US government has much to contend with and defend against. People are creatures of habit and routine, and when there is any disruption to that, they tend to get angry and violent about it. Now, could terrorists utilized the means of cyber-warfare to wreck havoc on the US? Perhaps, but I believe they are more interested in more violent means to carry out their message and brand. The more shocking and dastardly the better. In other words, a grand finale of sorts i.e. a nuclear attack on a major city, chemical or biological attack, or something else out of a Hollywood movie. Remember they are fanatics and hellbent on destruction for the sake of destruction. Either way, there is a threat, and it would be in the best interests of the United States to prepare for it.

A small nuke would have the Ground-Zero radius of a few miles, anything within 10 would be obliterated by the radiant heat and blast-wave, outside of that depending on wind vectors there's contaminate of Radioactivity.

Now take into account that same nuke could be a Mesosphere airburst, this would be enough to warrant any electrical circuit inoperable of a 1000 mile radius. You would disable Defense systems, hospitals, communications, basically anything and everything that relies on a electrical current for operability.

Originally posted by ROBL240
A small nuke would have the Ground-Zero radius of a few miles, anything within 10 would be obliterated by the radiant heat and blast-wave, outside of that depending on wind vectors there's contaminate of Radioactivity.

Now take into account that same nuke could be a Mesosphere airburst, this would be enough to warrant any electrical circuit inoperable of a 1000 mile radius. You would disable Defense systems, hospitals, communications, basically anything and everything that relies on a electrical current for operability.

Take that just a step further. Lets say a country with even 1 nuke and the ability to launch a satellite into orbit (iran) loads their 1 nuke on a satellite and floats it 300 miles above the US. Upon detonation, the power grid and all electronics in the united states, part of canada, and part of mexico are destroyed. America is instantly a 3rd world country. Thousands would die within minutes as planes in the air crash and a huge portion of the population die of starvation or dehydration within months. I'm suprised it hasn't happened yet.

reply to post by OrionHunterX


As horrible and devasting as a limited nuclear attack by some terror group on the US would be it would not be a game-over scenario. First, you have to understand how nuclear weapons are actually used (delivered aerially and detonated well above ground) and realize that any terror group would have to detonate theirs at ground level. Really, really bad but localized.

Nuke Detonation

And, of course, it assumes they are actually able to smuggle the device onto US soil and successfully detonate it. Not as easy as one might think. But let's give them the benefit of the doubt.

For your blackmail scenario to work the terror group would have to provide reliable proof that they actually had a functional nuclear device. Once the US was convinced that they truly were in possession of such a device we would quickly and incontrovertibly inform all nations that we hold THEM responsible for finding and securing the device and wiull hold THEM responsible if an attack originates from their country.

Make no mistake about it. If a nuclear device was brought into this country from country X and detonated we most certainly WOULD retaliate. It's not about bombing some country into the stone age but we would destroy a lareg and expensive part of their infrastructure. I suggest you read 'Strategic Nuclear Trageting' by Ball and Richardson to get a sense of the US' policies on these kinds of things.

reply to post by ROBL240


Yes, I was not even considering the effects of an EMP. It would be just as devastating as cyber-attack, but in the event of an EMP attack, everyone knows what the response would be. That is something I would not want to experience, and I am sure neither the Russians or the Chinese.

However, they may use their teams of hackers to pave the way for an attack, but I still think they would be reluctant to use a nukes to cripple the US electrical grid, and information technology infrastructure. That would be suicide for them because the response would be a nuclear exchange, whether it was an EMP strike or a nuclear strike that involves casualties. Anytime a nuke is used it is reciprocated, at least that has always been the rules of engagement I have been aware of? Still, very good point though.

The problem is that if a terrorist group could somehow manage to get a single nuke into low earth orbit, say 300 miles up, like in a satellite, there would be no one to retaliate against. The emp upon detonation would instantly turn all of america, and parts of canada and mexico into an early 1800's throwback. There would be no power grid and all unshielded electronics would be destroyed in the whole country. I'm not sure that anyone would hear the explosion and there would just be about a 1 second flash of light to indicate that it had happened and if it was done during the day, I'm not sure anyone would even see that unless they happened to be looking up at the time.

reply to post by OrionHunterX


So what we need and do not have is a contingency plan for when the power stops. As long as we still all have oxygen (though sadly the GOP is working overtime to destroy even THAT) we will live and eat and go on.

A little chaotically but nothing really deadly here unless we PANIC and make it that way.

It wasn't so many years ago, we didn't even have what they are threatening to destroy on us now. Computerized infrastructure.

Keep the old "manual operations" mode handy and routinely serviced.
What is the big deal?

A EMP attack would mean the US Army has to improvise.
Mobilise attacks using a type of "Wild-West" approach, with hundreds of reserve men using Horses that could cover ground quicker than trying to mobilise/repair fried computer chips. Arm them with ammunition and it'll be something.

The Chinese had the same idea with their first Nuclear test, if you look at the Documentary "Trinity and Beyond" they use Horse Mobilisation and chemical warfare after a initial groundburst to simulate the effects of a EMP attack. the only Technology used was the camera to film it all (and the warhead detonated.)

The chances of anyone hacking any governmental databases, without passwords, is slim to none. Not only are you probably going to get disconnected the instant you connect to something important without clearances, but homeland security is going to be knocking at your door probably about 15 minutes later.

I'm an advanced pc user, I'm well aware of some of the potential out there on the net. There is a big difference between convincing some guy to download a trojan, as opposed as accessing flight controler towers, or power plants, as I would not be suprised if they are on a reserved network inaccessable without proper clearance. Also this is the United States Gov't we're talking about.

If there is any computer specialist out there that can get into stuff like that over the net, I'm sure that our gov't has someone right there just as good, if not better, just waiting for someone to try something stupid like that. It would take no time in the world to ping your ip, find an open port, disconnect your internet, and then contact the isp of that ip and get a home address based on time of usage.

To summarize, if you ask me, America has no problems when it comes to cyber space security. We don't let people attack us here at home, cyber space is no exception. This just sounds like a ploy to me, the only thing I could see our gov't claiming that it is unprotected against would be "hackers at home" which again, would more than likely be a ploy for internet censorship, hello USIDent.

Originally posted by Jakes51
reply to post by ROBL240

 

Yes, I was not even considering the effects of an EMP. It would be just as devastating as cyber-attack, but in the event of an EMP attack, everyone knows what the response would be. That is something I would not want to experience, and I am sure neither the Russians or the Chinese.

An EMP would be devastating no doubt, but the problem for the terrorists would be to detonate it at high altitude. This is extremely difficult if not impossible as they do not have the wherewithal for doing this at the present juncture.

A surface burst would be the preferred method. But that would have minimal effect on C3 I. They would therefore rely on cyber warfare to screw up things nice and proper!

The chances of anyone hacking any governmental databases, without passwords, is slim to none. Not only are you probably going to get disconnected the instant you connect to something important without clearances, but homeland security is going to be knocking at your door probably about 15 minutes later.

It happens more often than you think. But typically when it happens, you're going to disappear. It's the choice of the hackers whether they want to get a job (a majority of hackers who screw with the government typically get jobs) or you're getting thrown into a hole, never to be heard from again.

Anyways, this scare tactic is just going to be used to give the government control of the internet.